A verdict of suicide was returned Procarator Kuo. in the Public Mortuary on September 18 after an. inquest had been held into the circumstances surrounding the death] of Peter Bickoff, 35, a Russian bodyguard in the employ of Mr. Tsing-sen, director of the Taiping Bank and a grandson of the late viceroy Li Hung.-chang.
According to the evidence, Mr. Li, accompanied by deceased, left his home at 4 Chungking Road on Wed-sday evening to visit a friend living at 188 Weihaiwei Road. Whilst Mr, Li and his friend, Mr.
Yang, director of the State Bank of China, were in conversation, a pistol shot was heard.
Mr. Li went to investigate and deceased was found lying on. the footpath, dead, the pistol being next to the body. The police were it formed and the body was removed to the Public Mortuary. Deceased had no relatives in Shanghai, his only friend being another bodyguard named Roosin, working at 41081 Avenue Road. A letter was found on deceased's person saying that he was poor and owed some $400 to people.
Mr. Roosin deposed that he had! known deceased for three years. During the past few days, deceased had been drinking heavily. Witness thought that deceased has killed himself because he was in debt and despondent.
Another inquest was held by the same official over the body of Zu Kyi-kung, 33, who was shot whilst walking along Fearon Road on the: afternoon of September 9.
The evidence was to the effect that deceased was walking along the road in question when he was fired at from behind by unknown persons. He was struck by one of the bullets and, when he turned, he saw four men running away. Deceased was, he taken to St. Luke's Hospital, note he passed away on Wednesday. A verdict of murder against some. person oF persons unknown was returned.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.